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one of Wenneval's ransom. Let one of the poorer knights to whom the money would mean something take him. He tapped Wenneval's fingers and wristnot too gently, but not hard enough to hurt him or to knock the weapon from his handturned his sword and thrust at the exposed ribs on the right. |
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Without touching Wenneval, Ian pulled his sword back, lifted it slightly in salute, and kneed his destrier into a sharp turn to the left. Had Wenneval wished to continue engagement, he could have followed; that he did not probably indicated that he had known himself outclassed. Ian's eyes ranged over the shields immediately available, seeking the device of a man with whom he would enjoy matching skill. Sir Walter, who had been on his left, was now behind him, and Sir Henry had charged right past Wenneval and was fighting well ahead, bellowing like an enraged bull. Alinor obviously knew her men. Where Leicester was, Ian had no idea, but Leicester had a cool head. Still further left, Robert de Ros was fighting two knights of the Earl of Warenne's retinue. Ian spurred the gray destrier in that direction, calling a challenge. |
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The young knight was no match for him. Ian had him unseated in six strokes, but he did not pause to take his yielding. If the man could catch his horse and mount again, let him go on fighting. Ian did not care a pin who won the dayhe had done all the was going to do in the king's nameand he certainly did not want to take horse and armor ransom from someone who might have to borrow to pay it. He never knew whether his gesture had any effect beyond transferring the ransom he had spurned to someone else's purse, because he was set upon by two knights he did not recognize. Plainly, they were fighting as a team and, equally plainly, they planned to take him if they could. |
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Their skill, however, was not equal to their intentions. Ian brought both knees forward and prodded his mount hard in the shoulders. Up went the destrier, shod |
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